Srinagar: The government on Monday appointed former police officer and a BJP leader Farooq Khan, IPS (Retd), as Advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the appointment of Shri Farooq Khan, IPS (Retd), as Advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir with effect from the date he assumes charge,” reads an order issued here.
His appointment shall be governed by the terms and conditions as are applicable to other Advisors in terms of Government Order No. 1110-GAD of 2018 dated 09-07-2018, the order added. Khan was the first Muslim from Jammu and Kashmir to get a prominent place in the BJP within 15 months of his joining the party. He had joined the BJP at an election rally in the presence of Narendra Modi, who was then the party’s prime ministerial candidate.
He retired as head of the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Academy Udhampur in the rank of Inspector General of Police.
The former IPS officer became the first head of the anti-militancy Task Force popularly known as Special Operations Group.
The sexagenarian also had his share of controversies which included gunning down of five civilians at Pathribal in South Kashmir. After enquiries made at various levels followed by a CBI probe, Khan was given a clean chit and army officers were held responsible for the killings.
His grandfather Colonel (retired) Peer Mohammad Khan, who was in the army of Maharaja Hari Singh, was the first state president of the Jammu and Kashmir Jana Sangh.
Khan’s appointment comes more than six months after Skandan Krishnan, a retired IAS officer of 1982 batch, who was Incharge of Kashmir Division in the Government of India for five consecutive years from 2007 to 2012, as fourth Advisor to the Governor Satya Pal Malik.
After imposing Governor’s Rule in the State on June 20 last year following withdrawal of support by BJP to Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition Government, then Governor NN Vohra had appointed three Advisors to him including BB Vyas, then Chief Secretary of the State, who was on extension after completing his retirement age, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, who was working as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) after retirement from the services and K Vijay Kumar, who was then Security Advisor to the Union Home Ministry after retirement as Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
However, on November 8, 2018, Kewal Krishan Sharma was appointed fourth Advisor to Governor Satya Pal Malik, who had replaced Vohra on August 23 last year but on December 14, Vyas resigned as the Advisor following his appointment as member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Later on Skandan Krishnan was appointed as another advisor to the governor.
